Shurooq partners with Korean healthcare group

SHARJAH, May 19, 2018

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with REI Holding Group and Haewon Medical Foundation Sejong General Hospital to establish the first Korean hospital in Sharjah.

The signing ceremony took place in the South Korean capital Seoul, where Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, as well as several representatives from Shurooq and REI Holding, were given a tour around the Sejong General Hospital, and were introduced to some of the latest and cutting-edge healthcare technologies, which are slated to debut their presence in the UAE, through the establishment of the new hospital in Sharjah.

The new hospital will be the first-of-its-kind healthcare facility in the UAE to offer state-of-the-art Korean technologies and solutions specialising in open-heart surgery, cardiac care and medical expertise in other fields.

The MoU signing will play in a key role in strengthening Sharjah's position as a premium healthcare destination across the GCC and the wider Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, remarked Marwan Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, after signing the deal with Soon bong Hong, the chairman of REI Holding Group, and Jinsin Park, the chairman of Haewon Medical Foundation Sejong General Hospital.

"This is another excellent example of foreign investment in Sharjah’s healthcare industry and demonstrates once again the appeal of the emirate on a global scale," stated Al Sarkal.

"The Republic of Korea is well-established as one of the world’s most successful healthcare providers, particularly in specialist medicine. The advantages of this project are not only in providing some of the best cardiac care available to residents, but there are also enormous benefits to Sharjah’s economy in terms of attracting medical tourism," he stated.

Hong said: "Advanced Korean medical system and operation infrastructure are already making positive changes in the UAE. Now, we hope to promote UAE-Korea healthcare sector exchanges by vitalising knowhow and technologies of Korean medicine in Sharjah."

"Our specialised general hospital in Sharjah shall be an exemplary place of sustainable hospital management which provides highest standard and cutting edge quality medical services customised to demand of patients and diseases reflecting the regional characteristics," noted Bong Hong.

It will be a role model of hospital business, overcoming challenges shown by many existing hospitals in the GCC region.

"In addition, our hospital will generate new understandings to the region that healthcare services are not just for patients suffering from diseases or medical conditions, but they can actually become convenient, comfortable, and luxurious healthcare shopping for even general public to enhance quality of their lives," he stated.

"Our partnership with Sharjah in healthcare sector is an important part of diverse and yet specific Sharjah-Korea partnerships encompassing R&D, education, tourism, and other sectors," he added.

Commenting on the hospital’s debut in the UAE, Park said: "This is a monumental opportunity for us, celebrating our market access to the UAE markets through Sharjah, introducing our state-of-the-art technology in one of the most complex segments in medical history."

"The new hospital will feature the latest facilities and medical services, which will play a crucial role in battling various types of cardiac diseases and issues that exist within patients in Sharjah, UAE and the wider region," he noted.

"The hospital will play a key role in educating citizens and the market on cutting edge Korean technologies especially in the healthcare industry, which continues to witness global interests," he added.-TradeArabia News Service